Forty Creek Heart of Gold

This review is a bit late...but the 2013 special release from John Hall at Forty Creek is certainly fabulous and after a recent tasting I wanted to post a review. It is a whisky worth spending quite a bit of time with, especially as it gets much better as it airs (I recommend, along with many others, to let it sit half an hour and see how it improves!)

Nose: Sharp, grassy rye in a way that is not usually presented and one which I have mainly found in new makes. There are also aromas of sourdough, and, surprisingly, lasagna. The creamy and floral nature of the whisky, I suppose, lend itself to such an aroma. It certainly is full of complexity and intrigue. 93%

Taste: Not as sweet as many of the other forty creek whiskies, which took a few people at my table by surprise. Again, the sharp, grassy, and spicy rye shines through and it is smooth in the middle of the palate. It has an interesting citrus note as well, which one of the reviewers pointed out, rightly, to be marmalade. additionally, it is floral as advertised. 90%

Finish: Long and lingering, and also unique - not generic. After I had tasted all of the other 8 whiskies in the lineup, the heart of gold was the finish which remained, and I could tell it was from the heart of gold because of the quality of rye flavour left in the mouth. 93%

Intrigue: I love the uniqeness of this whisky, and certainly it is different from any presentation of forty creek beforehand. I love it for its complexity and uniqueness, but it certainly might be a bit different for many. Worth seeking out - or (perhaps even more so!) making a friend with a bottle. 95%

Weighting the nose 25%, taste 35%, Finish 15%, and Intrigue 25% the overall grade is 93.